And those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good. 29:69 The Quran

Geo News TV Reporter Killed

in a Terrorist Attack

Syed Javed Hussain

Wali Khan Babar, Geo News TV reporter was killed in Liaqat Bagh, Karachi today on the 13th January, 2011 at 7 PM GMT while he was returning from his office after a very hectic day; he was reporting on a police operation against a gang fight in Pehlwan Goath, a notoriously dangerous area in Karachi housing all kinds of criminals.

Earlier in the day, the police had launched a raid to neutralize two fighting groups who were using firearms of all kinds. No one has claimed responsibility of the murder, and considering the volatile general situation in Pakistan, it is doubted that someone will ever do so.

Wali Khan was a Young Fast Rising Reporter

Wali Khan Babar was a 23 year old fast rising journalist with masters in International Relations from Karachi University in first division. He joined Geo News TV in 2007 and soon earned great appreciation from senior journalists due to his bold, untiring, investigative reporting.

As reported by Geo TV, president of Karachi Union of Journalists, Mr. Khurshid Abbasi, has condemned the murder in strongest terms and said that through this murder the terrorists had tried to silence the voice of truth. The KUJ has planned a protest procession in Karachi tomorrow. Talking to Kamran Khan, host of Pakistans most popular programme Aaj Kamran Key Sath Mr Khurshid Abbasi said Wali Khan was a great reporter and only last year he had got his membership of the KUJ and was very happy to become a member of august community of journalists in Karachi.

Shot at Close Range Five Times

According to Geo TV Report, it was a targeted killing, and the young reporter was shot in the face five times at close range. Ironically, the incident happened in front of Liaqat Bagh police station which is considered the safest police station in the city. Nearby, there is also the office of city polices big boss, but strangely enough, the media reports suggest that at the time of the tragic incident the police presence on the road was barely noticeable.

The culprits came in a car and shot at Wali Khan Babar five times through drivers window. Reportedly, Walis face has been badly mutilated.

Pakistan has generally been considered one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Currently, Pakistan, like Sri Lanka in the recent past, is internally fighting an all out war with terrorists. Pakistan's army is bearing losses in men and material and also inflicting heavy losses on terrorists in the north of the country.

President, PM and Journalist Community Condemn the Murder

Mr. Azhar Abbas, Managing Director of Geo News TV talking to Kamran Khan on Geo TV said that, Wali Khan has only been murdered because of his commitment to his profession. He called upon the journalist community of Pakistan to stand united to defeat the purpose of terrorists scuttling the voice of freedom and truth.

Renowned journalist and host of one of the most popular programmes in Pakistan, Capital Talk, Mr. Hamid Mir, has condemned the murder and appealed to the journalist community to stand up and expose the murderers themselves instead of banking on police investigations that had never been conclusive in the past. He said that last year eight/nine journalists were murdered in Pakistan and no culprit had been captured. According to him, Pakistan in 2010 was decaled the most dangerous place for journalists.

Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed, senior analyst of Geo News TV, talking to Kamran Khan, condemned the murder and said, it is a turning point for journalism in Pakistan. Those who talk through bullets are the ones who cannot face logic.

Currently, Pakistan is passing through a bloody phase of violence in which Mr. Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab, was killed on 4th January, 2011, barely nine days ago, by his own guard on blasphemous charges. Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Senior judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, lost his parents three days ago in apparently a robbery case in Lahore.

Wali Khan Babar was a 23 year old fast rising journalist with masters in International Relations from Karachi University in first division. He joined Geo News TV in 2007 and soon earned great appreciation from senior journalists due to his bold, untiring, investigative reporting.﻿

This is a news story that first appeared in the Suite101 on Jan 13, 2011﻿﻿